2-6.
The Group of Five Discourses Beginning with the Second on Slanting Towards the East
128-132.
"Just as, monks, the river Yamunā slants towards the east, slopes towards the east, inclines towards the east;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
Just as, monks, the river Aciravatī slants towards the east, slopes towards the east, inclines towards the east;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
Just as, monks, the river Sarabhū slants towards the east, slopes towards the east, inclines towards the east;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
Just as, monks, the river Mahī slants towards the east, slopes towards the east, inclines towards the east;
so too, monks, a monk, etc.
Just as, monks, whatever great rivers there are, as follows -
the Ganges, the Yamunā, the Aciravatī, the Sarabhū, the Mahī, all of them slant towards the east, slope towards the east, incline towards the east;
so too, monks, a monk developing the noble eightfold path, cultivating the noble eightfold path, slants towards Nibbāna, slopes towards Nibbāna, inclines towards Nibbāna.
And how, monks, does a monk developing the noble eightfold path, cultivating the noble eightfold path, slant towards Nibbāna, slope towards Nibbāna, incline towards Nibbāna?
Here, monks, a monk develops right view, slanting towards Nibbāna, sloping towards Nibbāna, inclining towards Nibbāna, etc.
he develops right concentration, slanting towards Nibbāna, sloping towards Nibbāna, inclining towards Nibbāna.
Thus, monks, a monk developing the noble eightfold path, cultivating the noble eightfold path, slants towards Nibbāna, slopes towards Nibbāna, inclines towards Nibbāna."
The sixth.